Sparks Film School recently partnered up and joined forces with the renowned BRIT School to offer a spine-tingling opportunity…
The Competition
Sparks Film Schools and BRIT School recently hosted a new filmmaking competition, which challenged young filmmakers to create a 30-second short film that ends with a cliffhanger.
Stories needed to leave viewers desperate to know what happens next. That moment of suspense… the unanswered question, the final twist, the sudden cut to black.
In just half a minute, the entries needed to spark curiosity, raise the stakes, and most importantly, leave us on the edge of our seats.
We had some truly incredible entries this year, meaning the decision was very difficult for our judges. However, we are delighted to announce a competition winner, and a runner up. The makers of both films will receive some very exciting prizes.
Winner: All Hell Breaks Loose
by Walt Morton, Carrie Morton, and Kitty Christian
Congratulations to Walt, Carrie, and Kitty for their entry ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’, which has been selected as the overall winner of the competition!
This film is a brilliant example of a perfectly executed cliffhanger. The set up is simple to grasp but incredibly intriguing. The film shows a person, alone in the woods is attempting some sort of evil looking ritual. After completing the ritual, they realise they may have summoned something they didn’t intend. We as the audience are left desperate to see more, and to see what was summoned.
The film has some clever cinematography, using a range of interesting and dynamic camera angles whilst building the scene. The film includes some practical special FX too with some fake blood. The slow build of creating the ritual and then the explosive and ominous ending had us on the edge of our seats wondering what was summoned, and what our protagonist had seen as they backed away in terror.
Sparks Film School Founder and Director Dan said:
Well done to Walt, Carrie, and Kitty. This is a brilliant example of visual storytelling. I love the montage of shots you’ve selected, you’ve used the camera beautifully, and I love the camera movement as you track the staff as it marks the shapes in the ground. You’ve created something really intriguing. I was hooked from the first frame.
Runner Up: The Interview
by Hugo Skanberg
Congratulations to Hugo Skanberg for his entry ‘The Interview’, selected as the competition’s runner up!
Hugo’s film really draws us in from the start. Set in a very ominous environment which initially seems quite normal, very quickly we as an audience realise maybe everything is not as it seems. The story is given to us at a great pace, with great performances by the actors.
Our judges really loved the darker, more serious and mysterious tone of Hugo’s film, and thought this would be a great start to a longer story. It left us wanting to know more, so a perfect cliffhanger ending.
The Shortlist…
An Off Key Apocalypse
by Joshua Lloyd Williams
A great cliff hanger, showcasing some brilliant editing and world bending effects…
The Job Isn’t Finished
by Jack Wyatt
Strong use of green screen, costume, effects, and an intriguing plot. Our panel loved the overall production of this and were left wanting more…
The Lost
by Arden Baker-Coquet
Some really lovely cinematography, including some great shots of landscapes. The use of a POV shot for the main character really helped bring us into the characters emotions…
The Light Of The Forest
by Erin Lamb
A really great use of sound effects and music on display in this film. The atmosphere is great, and we were left wondering, what is in the woods…?
Winner Takes All
by Charlie Austin
This film has some amazing cinematography and clearly took a lot of preparation and planning to execute some of those great shots…
The Haunting Menace
by Rishi Iyer
This film has a great use of sound effects and sound to really set the tone and atmosphere . Also some really lovely establishing shots of the location…
Eye On The Pie
by Rowan Cooper
Our panel loved the silent tension in the ‘will he, won’t he?’ as the character eyes up the mince pie. Very funny and a great idea for a cliff hanger…
The Biscuit Cycle by Liam Stowell
The editing in this film was top notch, with some very snappy edits and another fun concept for a cliff hanger.
Find Out More about BRIT:
This competition was held in partnership between Sparks Film School and the BRIT School.
Opened in 1991 with the support of the UK recorded music industry through The BRIT Trust and the BPI, The BRIT School is the leading Performing and Creative Arts school in the UK and is completely FREE to attend. Its mission is to train and educate young people for future careers in the booming creative industries and was judged ‘Outstanding’ in all five categories by OFSTED in 2024.
It provides a unique education for over 1,450 students aged between 14 and 19, specialising in Music, Film, Digital Arts, Visual Arts and Design, Fashion, Production and Performing Arts and is underpinned by a robust academic programme of GCSEs, UAL vocational Level 2&3, A Levels plus BRIT Fit – a fitness and wellbeing initiative, and Ethics, Beliefs & Culture to celebrate inclusivity and diversity.
Read our Prospectus: https://joom.ag/jZtd
Apply directly here: https://www.brit.croydon.sch.uk/apply
Thinking of applying to BRIT but don’t live nearby?
Speak to studentservices@brit.croydon.sch.uk who have an accommodation list, and would happily discuss options for people from across the country.
Here is a link to their FAQs which answers all burning questions: https://www.brit.croydon.sch.uk/faqs-for-applicants
